Flexible displays for vr/ar headsets

ABSTRACT

A headset for virtual reality imaging is provided. The headset includes a first display configured to generate multiple light beams from a central portion of a field of view in an image provided to a user, a first optical element configured to provide the light beams forming a central portion of the field of view through an eyebox of the headset that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second display configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the second display includes multiple light emitting pixels arranged in a two-dimensional surface. A system and a method for using the above headset are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is related and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Prov. Pat. Appln. No. 63/214,606, entitled LIGHT FIELDDISPLAY FOR PERIPHERAL VIEW IN VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS, to BrianWheelwright, et al., filed on Jun. 24, 2021, the contents of whichapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, forall purposes.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure is related to headsets for use in virtual reality(VR) applications that include a peripheral display. More specifically,the present disclosure is related to headsets that provide peripheralview using flexible displays.

Related Art

In the field of virtual reality headsets, much focus is devoted to thebinocular field of view (FOV) of the user, which includes about 60° up,50° nasally and peripherally, and 75° down. This is about 2.5 Sr.Current VR devices support most of this binocular (or “stereo”) portionof the field of view, but service very little of the periphery (visibleto one eye only) or the lower binocular field. To provide a fullyimmersive experience to viewers, large portions of the peripheral viewis desirable. Human vision includes a peripheral field of view that ismore than 200° horizontal and more than 115° vertical (about 5.3 Srtotal). Current optical applications are unable to incorporate thisperipheral field of view (FOV) in a compact, light headset that a viewercan comfortably use and move around with.

SUMMARY

In a first embodiment, a headset for virtual reality imaging includes afirst display configured to generate multiple light beams from a centralportion of a field of view in an image provided to a user, a firstoptical element configured to provide the light beams forming a centralportion of the field of view through an eyebox of the headset thatlimits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second displayconfigured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for theimage through the eyebox, wherein the second display includes multiplelight emitting pixels arranged in a two-dimensional surface.

In a second embodiment, a display for a headset includes a pixel arrayconfigured in a two-dimensional surface wherein a first dimension issubstantially perpendicular to a central display providing a centralportion of a field of view of an image to a user of the headset, amemory that stores multiple instructions, and one or more processorsconfigured to execute the instructions to activate each of multiplesegments in the pixel array to emit light beams forming a peripheralfield of view of the image, each segment providing a diminishing angularresolution of the image along the first dimension, wherein the image isprojected on a retina of a user of a headset through an eyeboxdelimiting a position of a pupil of the user.

In a third embodiment, a method for digital calibration of a light fielddisplay includes capturing, with a camera, an image of a two-dimensionaldisplay for a headset, the image associated with a peripheral field ofview of a user of the headset, and the two-dimensional display includinga first dimension substantially perpendicular to a central display thatprovides a central portion of a field of view to the user of theheadset, obtaining an angular resolution map from the image of thetwo-dimensional display, wherein the angular resolution map includes anangular distance in the image between two adjacent points in thetwo-dimensional display, and verifying that the angular resolution mapincludes a curve above a pre-selected threshold along the firstdimension.

In yet other embodiments, a non-transitory, computer-readable mediumstores instructions which, when executed by a processor in a computer,cause the computer to perform a method of using a head mounted display.The method includes capturing, with a camera, an image of atwo-dimensional display for a headset, the image associated with aperipheral field of view of a user of the headset, and thetwo-dimensional display including a first dimension substantiallyperpendicular to a central display that provides a central portion of afield of view to the user of the headset, obtaining an angularresolution map from the image of the two-dimensional display, whereinthe angular resolution map includes an angular distance in the imagebetween two adjacent points in the two-dimensional display, andverifying that the angular resolution map includes a curve above apre-selected threshold along the first dimension.

In other embodiments, a system includes a first means to storeinstructions and a second means to execute the instructions and causethe system to execute a method. The method includes capturing, with acamera, an image of a two-dimensional display for a headset, the imageassociated with a peripheral field of view of a user of the headset, andthe two-dimensional display including a first dimension substantiallyperpendicular to a central display that provides a central portion of afield of view to the user of the headset, obtaining an angularresolution map from the image of the two-dimensional display, whereinthe angular resolution map includes an angular distance in the imagebetween two adjacent points in the two-dimensional display, andverifying that the angular resolution map includes a curve above apre-selected threshold along the first dimension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate an exemplary head mounted display (HMD),according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate an FOV of human vision including a centralportion, a peripheral left portion, and a peripheral right portion,according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate an HMD having peripheral light field displays toprovide a peripheral FOV to a user, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a headset with flexible displays for providing aperipheral FOV, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a headset with flexible displays and a multi-lensletarray for providing a peripheral FOV, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a first and a second displayused to provide an enlarged FOV to a headset user, according to someembodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a headset with flexible displays to provide anenlarged FOV to a headset user, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a method for aligning an MLAin a flexible display for a headset, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a method for calibrating theresolution in a flexible display for peripheral view in a headset,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a method of forming animage in the retina of a headset user with an enlarged FOV, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer systemwith which the methods of FIGS. 8-10 can be implemented, according tosome embodiments.

In the figures, elements having the same or similar reference numeralsshare the same or similar features, unless otherwise explicitlyexpressed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of a peripheral display are described herein. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in therelevant art will recognize, however, that the techniques describedherein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, orwith other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, theappearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments.

Embodiments as disclosed herein may include or be implemented inconjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality is aform of reality that has been adjusted in some manner beforepresentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtual reality (VR),an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a hybrid reality, orsome combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality contentmay include completely generated content or generated content combinedwith captured (e.g., real world) content. The artificial reality contentmay include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof,and any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiplechannels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effectto the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial realitymay also be associated with applications, products, accessories,services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, e.g., createcontent in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used in (e.g.,perform activities in) an artificial reality. The artificial realitysystem that provides the artificial reality content may be implementedon various platforms, including a head mounted display (HMD) connectedto a host computer system, a standalone HMD, a mobile device orcomputing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providingartificial reality content to one or more viewers.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, “near-eye” may be defined asincluding an optical element that is configured to be placed within 35mm of an eye of a user while a near-eye optical device such as an HMD(head mounted display) is being utilized.

In VR (virtual reality) displays, there are limited options forextending the field of view to cover the human visual field. Someoptions include filling the periphery with sparse LEDs or a bare displaypanel, but these both lack in resolution even compared to the lowresolution of the human eye at large angles. Other approaches mayinclude tiling (e.g., ‘split lens’ architectures). With enough tiles,this provides excellent coverage, but over-performs in resolution and isbulky.

To resolve the above problems, an HMD as disclosed herein includes afirst optical element to provide a central FOV through the HMD eyebox.The HMD also includes a second optical element to provide a peripheralFOV through the eyebox. The second optical element includes an MLA toprovide a segmented view of the peripheral FOV. The MLA may be afreeform MLA, a liquid crystal MLA, a Fresnel MLA, or a pancake MLA. TheMLA is closely disposed next to a display. Any two adjacent lenslets inthe MLA form a continuous image on the retina of the user from twoadjacent segmented portions of active pixels in the display.

To provide a wide peripheral view in AR/VR applications, someembodiments use a light field display having segmented portions ofactive pixels separated by a gap of inactive pixels. Light fielddisplays are compact and provide a generous eyebox and FOV, whilepotentially trading away angular resolution. Accordingly, while thefirst optical element may desirably have a high resolution for thecentral FOV, the second optical element may admit a lower angularresolution for a wider, peripheral FOV afforded by MLAs and light fielddisplays. In some embodiments, the resolution of the second opticalelement (as determined by the MLA) may gradually decrease between aborderline area adjacent to the first optical element towards the end ofthe headset. Accordingly, some embodiments may include MLAs having atransitional area close to the first optical element wherein thelenslets in the MLA have a higher numerical aperture (e.g., largerangular resolution) close to the first optical element.

In this disclosure, some embodiments include a flat peripheral lightfield display with a freeform lenslet tailored to match the needs of theperiphery. Some embodiments include a curved peripheral light fielddisplay with a freeform lenslet and conical display that wraps aroundthe central optic, from the outer brow to the lower cheek of the viewer.This single display fills the entire (or substantially the entire)peripheral FOV.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary HMD 100, according to some embodiments.For example, HMD 100 may be a virtual reality (VR) HMD. HMD 100 includesa front panel 101, a visor 103, and a strap 105. Front panel 101includes and protects a display for the user, visor 103 adjusts HMD 100on the user, and strap 105 keeps HMD 100 tightly fit on the user's head.An audio device 107 provides sound to the user.

In some embodiments, HMD 100 may include a processor circuit 112 and amemory circuit 122. Memory circuit 122 may store instructions which,when executed by processor circuit 112, cause HMD 100 to execute amethod as disclosed herein. In addition, HMD 100 may include acommunications module 118. Communications module 118 may includeradio-frequency software and hardware configured to wirelesslycommunicate processor 112 and memory 122 with an external network, orsome other device. Accordingly, communications module 118 may includeradio antennas, transceivers, and sensors, and also digital processingcircuits for signal processing according to any one of multiple wirelessprotocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near field contact (NFC), and thelike. In addition, communications module 118 may also communicate withother input tools and accessories cooperating with HMD 100 (e.g., handlesticks, joysticks, mouse, wireless pointers, and the like).

FIG. 1B illustrates a partial view of a left side view 102 of HMD 100corresponding to the left eye 60 of a user. HMD 100 may include twomirror images of left side view 102 each having the same or similarelements as illustrated in left side view 102. The choice of the leftside in FIG. 1B is arbitrary, and all components therein may be presentin the right side of HMD 100. HMD 100 includes a pixel array 120-1 and apixel array 120-2 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “pixelarrays 120”). Pixel arrays 120 include multiple pixels configured in atwo-dimensional surface (e.g., a flat surface oriented in one directionas in pixel array 120-1, and one or two flat surfaces oriented in adifferent direction as in pixel array 120-2). Each pixel in pixel arrays120 provides multiple light beams 123-1 and 123-2 (hereinafter,collectively referred to as “display light beams 123”) forming an imageprovided to a user. An optical element 130 is configured to provide acentral portion of an FOV for the image through an eyebox 121. Thecentral portion of the FOV for the image may include light beams 125-1.An optical element 153 provides a peripheral portion of the FOV for theimage through eyebox 121 including light beams 125-2. Light beams 125-1and 125-2 will be collectively referred to, hereinafter, as “eyeboxlight beams 125.” Eye 60 includes a pupil 61, to accept at least some ofeyebox light beams 125, and a retina 63, where the image is projected.Front panel 101 and communications module 118 are also illustrated (cf.FIG. 1A).

In some embodiments, optical elements 130 and 153 may include one ormore optical elements such as diffractive elements (gratings andprisms), refractive elements (lenses), guiding elements (e.g., planarwaveguides and/or fibers), and polarizing elements (e.g., polarizers,half-wave plates, quarter wave-plates, polarization rotators,Pancharatnam-Berry Phase lens—PBP-, and the like). In some embodiments,optical elements 130 and 153 may include one or more passive elementscombined with one or more active elements, such as a liquid crystal (LC)variable wave plate or variable polarize.

In some embodiments, pixel array 120-2 may be divided into active pixelsegments, and optical element 153 may include a multi-lenslet arraywherein each lenslet directs light beams 123-2 from at least one pixelsegment into eyebox 121. In some embodiments, optical element 153 mayinclude a freeform multi-lenslet array. Accordingly, light beams 125-2provide a segmented view of the peripheral FOV that forms a continuousprojection of the periphery of the image on retina 63 through eyebox 121and pupil 61 by overlapping FOV frustums from different active pixelsegments. In some embodiments, processor 112 activates each of thesegments in pixel array 120-2 to emit light beams 123-2 forming aportion of a peripheral FOV. Each portion of the peripheral FOV fromeach segment may include a different angle of view of the image.

In some embodiments, HMD 100 includes one or more sensors 160 todetermine a position of pupil 61 within eyebox 121. Sensor 160 thensends the information about the position of pupil 61 within eyebox 121to processor 112. Accordingly, processor 112 may determine a gazedirection of the user, based on the position of pupil 61 within eyebox121. In some embodiments, memory 122 includes instructions for processor112 to select the peripheral field of view of the image based on a gazedirection of the viewer and the position of pupil 61 within eyebox 121.In some embodiments, memory 122 contains display calibrationinstructions which change how the virtual image is mapped to pixelarrays 120 based on pupil location and/or gaze direction.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate charts 200A, 200B, and 200C for a field of view(FOV) 250 of human vision. FOV 250 includes a central portion 205, aperipheral left portion 210L, and a peripheral right portion 210R(hereinafter, collectively referred to as peripheral portions 210),according to some embodiments, measured according to an angular aperture201. Angular aperture 201 is measured azimuthally relative to adirection pointing normal to and straight out of the face of the user(which corresponds to 0°).

FIG. 2A illustrates chart 200A with a left eye portion 210L and a righteye portion 210R as a function of angular aperture 201 (in degrees).This represents the human visual field without eye rotation. Peripheralportions 210 may have some overlap in a binocular portion 215, includedwithin the lower peripheral FOV. Central portion 205 includes thecombined FOV from both eyes, within a 45° angle from the normal, thatis, central portion 205 includes a binocular FOV. According to chart200A, peripheral portions 210 may include about 60% of total FOV 250.

FIG. 2B illustrates an approximated performance chart 200B of humanvision for the entire FOV 250, wherein the abscissae (e.g., the X-axis)indicates angular aperture 201, and the ordinates (e.g., the Y-axis)indicate an angular resolution 202, expressed in arc minutes (arcmins).Performance chart 200B assumes that the eye rotates up to 30° away fromcenter in casual scenarios. Thus, 1 arcmin “foveal” resolution ismaintained up to 30° radially and the human eye performance decreasessteadily beyond 30° down to about 1 degree resolution at 90° angularaperture (e.g., near the edge of FOV 250). The human eye performancewithin central portion 205 may drop to as low as about 6 arcmins at theedges. Peripheral portions 210 are also illustrated (cf. FIG. 2A).

FIG. 2C illustrates a performance chart 200C for different opticalconfigurations of an HMD, compared with the human performance. As inchart 200B, angular resolution 202 is plotted against angular aperture201. A split lens configuration 230 captures peripheral portions 210 ata relatively high resolution. The dashed lines indicate a design-basedperformance range of the split lens. The tradeoff of split lensconfiguration 230 is the form factor for HMD applications (including theweight of the lenses uses, and the like).

A light field display configuration 220 is able to keep on par with theregular eye vision performance for approximately the entire span ofperipheral portions 210. In some embodiments, the resolution of lightfield configuration 220 may be limited by the number of pixels per inch(PPI) in the pixel array (e.g., pixel arrays 120), and also by the focallength of a lenslet in the multi-lenslet array (e.g., optical element153). A bare peripheral display (e.g., without any optics between eyeand display panel) produces a resolution within region 260, whichprovides extended environmental illumination and some sense of motionand optical flow over the boundary with the central optic. Pupiltracking is required for optimal driving of a bare peripheral displaysince no optics are present to establish a map from pixel to anglespace. The resolution provided by a bare peripheral display isdetermined by the distance from eye to display, eye pupil size (asviewed from the display), and display pixel pitch.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate an HMD 300 having peripheral light field displays350L and 350R (collectively referred to as “light field displays 350”).In some embodiments, light field displays include lenslet arrays withmicro-lenses having dimensions of approximately 1 mm to provideaccommodation focus for a user viewing the display. In some embodiments,a light field display described in this disclosure may include lensletarrays having micro-lenses with dimensions of approximately 3-6 mm thatmay not necessarily provide accommodation focus to the eye.

Light field display 350L includes a pixel array 320L and a lenslet array353L to provide peripheral display light emitted by pixel array 320L tothe peripheral FOV of a left eye of a user. Light field display 350Rincludes a pixel array 320R and a lenslet array 353R to provideperipheral display light emitted by pixel array 320R to the peripheralFOV of a right eye of the user of HMD 300. Pixel arrays 320L and 320R(collectively referred to as pixel arrays 320) may be OLED displays orLCDs, for example. Lenslet arrays 353L and 353R (collectively referredto as lenslet arrays 353) may be flat lenslet arrays configured withsquare tessellation, hexagonal tessellation, and/or hexapolartessellation. An advantage of hexapolar tessellation is that the numberof unique prescriptions can be reduced due to rotational symmetry (e.g.,a lenslet with 9 rows only requires 9 unique prescriptions). A primarydisplay of HMD 300 (not illustrated) is disposed behind central optics330L and 330R.

FIG. 4 illustrates a headset 400 with flexible displays 420-1 and 420-2(hereinafter, collectively referred to as “flexible displays 420”) forproviding a peripheral FOV, according to some embodiments. Processors412-1 and 412-2 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as processors412) provide power and signals to flexible displays 420. Opticalelements 430L and 430R (hereinafter, collectively referred to as“optical elements 430”) provide a central FOV to the user. Withoutadditional optics, the bare display provides resolution of a lower orderof magnitude (cf. region 260). Extension of the display to the lowercheek would further extend the lower field of view, including a stereozone (e.g., binocular portion 215).

FIG. 5 illustrates a headset 500 with flexible displays 520-1 and 520-2(hereinafter, collectively referred to as “flexible displays 520”) andMLAs 553-1 and 553-2 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “MLAs553”) for providing a peripheral FOV, according to some embodiments.Processors 512-1 and 512-2 (hereinafter, collectively referred to asprocessors 512) provide power and signals to flexible displays 520.Optical elements 530L and 530R (hereinafter, collectively referred to as“optical elements 530”) provide a central FOV to the user. Extension ofthe display to the lower cheek would further extend the lower field ofview, including stereo zone 215.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a first 620-1 and a second620-2 display (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “displays 620”)used to provide an enlarged FOV to a user 601 of a headset 600,according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate a headset 700 with flexible displays 720-1 and720-2 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “displays 720”) toprovide an enlarged FOV to a user 701, according to some embodiments. Adisplay 720-3 provides a central portion of the FOV for user 701.Processors 712-1, 712-2, and 712-3 (hereinafter, collectively referredto as processors 712) provide power and signals to displays 720,respectively. Optical elements 730L and 730R (hereinafter, collectivelyreferred to as “optical elements 730”) provide a central FOV to theuser.

FIG. 7A illustrates a standalone headset 700.

FIG. 7B illustrates headset 700 mounted on user 701. Flexible displays720-1 and 720-2 follow the geometry of the head, temple and upper chinof user 701, thereby providing a substantive portion of the peripheralFOV.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a method 800 for aligning anMLA in a flexible display for a headset, according to some embodiments.According to some embodiments, the MLA and the light field display maybe included in an HMD device as disclosed herein (e.g., HMD devices 100,300, 400, 500, 600, and 700, and MLA 553). The HMD may include a lightfield display having multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensionalsurface (e.g., pixel arrays 120, 320, and light field displays 350, 620,and 720), each pixel providing multiple light beams (e.g., light beams123 and 125), forming an image through an eyebox of the HMD that limitsa volume including a pupil of the user (e.g., eyebox 121). The HMD mayalso include an optical element configured to provide a central portionof an FOV for the image through the eyebox (e.g., optical elements 130,330, 530, and 730). In some embodiments, the HMD device also includes anoptical element configured to provide a peripheral portion of the fieldof view for the image through the eyebox (e.g., optical element 153 and553). Methods consistent with the present disclosure may include atleast one or more of the steps in method 800 performed in a differentorder, simultaneously, quasi-simultaneously, or overlapping in time.

Step 802 includes disposing an MLA adjacent to a flexible display, theflexible display configured in a two-dimensional surface and to providea portion of an image in a peripheral field of view of a headset user.

Step 804 includes rotating the MLA abouts its center until an imageprojection shows a full view without overlapping features.

Step 806 includes translating the MLA from its center along a plane ofthe MLA until the image projection from the MLA shows a full viewwithout overlapping features.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a method 900 for digitallycalibrating a light field display, according to some embodiments.According to some embodiments, the MLA and the light field display maybe included in an HMD device as disclosed herein (e.g., HMD devices 100,300, 400, 500, 600, and 700, and MLA 553). The HMD may include a lightfield display having multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensionalsurface (e.g., pixel arrays 120, 320, and light field displays 350, 620,and 720), each pixel providing multiple light beams (e.g., light beams123 and 125), forming an image through an eyebox of the HMD that limitsa volume including a pupil of the user (e.g., eyebox 121). The HMD mayalso include an optical element configured to provide a central portionof an FOV for the image through the eyebox (e.g., optical elements 130,330, 530, and 730). In some embodiments, the HMD device also includes anoptical element configured to provide a peripheral portion of the fieldof view for the image through the eyebox (e.g., optical elements 153 and753). Methods consistent with the present disclosure may include atleast one or more of the steps in method 900 performed in a differentorder, simultaneously, quasi-simultaneously, or overlapping in time.

Step 902 includes capturing, with a camera, an image of atwo-dimensional display for a headset, the image associated with aperipheral field of view of a user of the headset, and thetwo-dimensional display including a first dimension substantiallyperpendicular to a central display that provides a central portion of afield of view of the user of the headset.

Step 904 includes obtaining an angular resolution map from the image ofthe two-dimensional display, wherein the angular resolution map includesan angular distance in the image between two adjacent points in thetwo-dimensional display.

Step 906 includes verifying that the angular resolution map includes acurve above a pre-selected threshold along the first dimension. In someembodiments, step 906 includes activating a segment of thetwo-dimensional display to improve the angular resolution map. In someembodiments, step 906 includes determining a correction factor toimprove the angular resolution map based on a pixel resolution of thetwo-dimensional display and a pupil position of the user of the headsetand storing the correction factor in a memory of the headset.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating steps in a method 1000 for providinga peripheral field of view to a user of an HMD device having a lightfield display, according to some embodiments. According to someembodiments, the MLA and the light field display may be included in anHMD device as disclosed herein (e.g., HMD devices 100, 300, 400, 500,600, and 700, and MLA 553). The HMD may include a light field displayhaving multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensional surface (e.g.,pixel arrays 120, 320, and light field displays 350, 620, and 720), eachpixel providing multiple light beams (e.g., light beams 123 and 125),forming an image through an eyebox of the HMD that limits a volumeincluding a pupil of the user (e.g., eyebox 121). The HMD may alsoinclude an optical element configured to provide a central portion of anFOV for the image through the eyebox (e.g., optical elements 130 and330, 530, and 730). In some embodiments, the HMD device also includes anoptical element configured to provide a peripheral portion of the fieldof view for the image through the eyebox (e.g., optical elements 153,553). Methods consistent with the present disclosure may include atleast one or more of the steps in method 1000 performed in a differentorder, simultaneously, quasi-simultaneously, or overlapping in time.

Step 1002 includes activating one or more pixels in a first pixel arrayconfigured to provide light beams forming a central portion of an FOVfor an image provided to a headset user through an eyebox limiting avolume that includes a location of a pupil of the headset user.

Step 1004 includes activating at least one of multiple segments in asecond pixel array configured to provide light beams forming aperipheral portion of the field of view for the image provided to theuser of the headset through the eyebox.

Step 1006 includes forming a continuous image in the retina of the userwith the central portion of the FOV of the image and the peripheralportion of the FOV of the image.

Hardware Overview

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system1100 with which HMD device 100 of FIG. 1A, and methods 800, 900, and1000 can be implemented. In certain aspects, computer system 1100 may beimplemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware,either in a dedicated server, or integrated into another entity, ordistributed across multiple entities. Computer system 1100 may include adesktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a phablet, a smartphone,a feature phone, a server computer, or otherwise. A server computer maybe located remotely in a data center or be stored locally.

Computer system 1100 includes a bus 1108 or other communicationmechanism for communicating information, and a processor 1102 (e.g.,processor 112) coupled with bus 1108 for processing information. By wayof example, the computer system 1100 may be implemented with one or moreprocessors 1102. Processor 1102 may be a general-purpose microprocessor,a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a statemachine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any othersuitable entity that can perform calculations or other manipulations ofinformation.

Computer system 1100 can include, in addition to hardware, code thatcreates an execution environment for the computer program in question,e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, adatabase management system, an operating system, or a combination of oneor more of them stored in an included memory 1104 (e.g., memory 122),such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read-Only Memory(ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM),registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, or any othersuitable storage device, coupled with bus 1108 for storing informationand instructions to be executed by processor 1102. The processor 1102and the memory 1104 can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specialpurpose logic circuitry.

The instructions may be stored in the memory 1104 and implemented in oneor more computer program products, e.g., one or more modules of computerprogram instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for executionby, or to control the operation of, the computer system 1100, andaccording to any method well known to those of skill in the art,including, but not limited to, computer languages such as data-orientedlanguages (e.g., SQL, dBase), system languages (e.g., C, Objective-C,C++, Assembly), architectural languages (e.g., Java, .NET), andapplication languages (e.g., PHP, Ruby, Perl, Python). Instructions mayalso be implemented in computer languages such as array languages,aspect-oriented languages, assembly languages, authoring languages,command line interface languages, compiled languages, concurrentlanguages, curly-bracket languages, dataflow languages, data-structuredlanguages, declarative languages, esoteric languages, extensionlanguages, fourth-generation languages, functional languages,interactive mode languages, interpreted languages, iterative languages,list-based languages, little languages, logic-based languages, machinelanguages, macro languages, metaprogramming languages, multiparadigmlanguages, numerical analysis, non-English-based languages,object-oriented class-based languages, object-oriented prototype-basedlanguages, off-side rule languages, procedural languages, reflectivelanguages, rule-based languages, scripting languages, stack-basedlanguages, synchronous languages, syntax handling languages, visuallanguages, wirth languages, and xml-based languages. Memory 1104 mayalso be used for storing temporary variable or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions to be executed by processor1102.

A computer program as discussed herein does not necessarily correspondto a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of afile that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts storedin a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to theprogram in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files thatstore one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers that are located at one site or distributed across multiplesites and interconnected by a communication network. The processes andlogic flows described in this specification can be performed by one ormore programmable processors executing one or more computer programs toperform functions by operating on input data and generating output.

Computer system 1100 further includes a data storage device 1106 such asa magnetic disk or optical disk, coupled with bus 1108 for storinginformation and instructions. Computer system 1100 may be coupled viainput/output module 1110 to various devices. Input/output module 1110can be any input/output module. Exemplary input/output modules 1110include data ports such as USB ports. The input/output module 1110 isconfigured to connect to a communications module 1112. Exemplarycommunications modules 1112 include networking interface cards, such asEthernet cards and modems. In certain aspects, input/output module 1110is configured to connect to a plurality of devices, such as an inputdevice 1114 and/or an output device 1116. Exemplary input devices 1114include a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball,by which a consumer can provide input to the computer system 1100. Otherkinds of input devices 1114 can be used to provide for interaction witha consumer as well, such as a tactile input device, visual input device,audio input device, or brain-computer interface device. For example,feedback provided to the consumer can be any form of sensory feedback,e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and inputfrom the consumer can be received in any form, including acoustic,speech, tactile, or brain wave input. Exemplary output devices 1116include display devices, such as an LCD (liquid crystal display)monitor, for displaying information to the consumer.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, HMD device 100 can beimplemented, at least partially, using a computer system 1100 inresponse to processor 1102 executing one or more sequences of one ormore instructions contained in memory 1104. Such instructions may beread into memory 1104 from another machine-readable medium, such as datastorage device 1106. Execution of the sequences of instructionscontained in main memory 1104 causes processor 1102 to perform theprocess steps described herein. One or more processors in amulti-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute thesequences of instructions contained in memory 1104. In alternativeaspects, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combinationwith software instructions to implement various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Thus, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited toany specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

Various aspects of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in a computing system that includes a back endcomponent, e.g., a data server, or that includes a middleware component,e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component,e.g., a client computer having a graphical consumer interface or a Webbrowser through which a consumer can interact with an implementation ofthe subject matter described in this specification, or any combinationof one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components. Thecomponents of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium ofdigital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Thecommunication network (e.g., network 150) can include, for example, anyone or more of a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, and the like. Further, thecommunication network can include, but is not limited to, for example,any one or more of the following network topologies, including a busnetwork, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-busnetwork, tree or hierarchical network, or the like. The communicationsmodules can be, for example, modems or Ethernet cards.

Computer system 1100 can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.Computer system 1100 can be, for example, and without limitation, adesktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet computer. Computer system1100 can also be embedded in another device, for example, and withoutlimitation, a mobile telephone, a PDA, a mobile audio player, a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) receiver, a video game console, and/or atelevision set top box.

The term “machine-readable storage medium” or “computer-readable medium”as used herein refers to any medium or media that participates inproviding instructions to processor 1102 for execution. Such a mediummay take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media,volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, forexample, optical or magnetic disks, such as data storage device 1106.Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as memory 1104. Transmissionmedia include coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, includingthe wires forming bus 1108. Common forms of machine-readable mediainclude, for example, floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetictape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EPROM, any other memory chipor cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. Themachine-readable storage medium can be a machine-readable storagedevice, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, acomposition of matter affecting a machine-readable propagated signal, ora combination of one or more of them.

To illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, itemssuch as the various illustrative blocks, modules, components, methods,operations, instructions, and algorithms have been described generallyin terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality isimplemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware andsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series ofitems, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items,modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (e.g.,each item). The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection ofat least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes atleast one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of anycombination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. Byway of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at leastone of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; anycombination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Phrases such as an aspect, theaspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, animplementation, the implementation, another implementation, someimplementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, theembodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or moreembodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration,some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology,the disclosure, the present disclosure, and other variations thereof andalike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating tosuch phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that suchdisclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Adisclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations,or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s)may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or someaspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and thisapplies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “oneand only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” Theterm “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headingsand subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subjecttechnology, and are not referred to in connection with theinterpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relationalterms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguishone entity or action from another without necessarily requiring orimplying any actual such relationship or order between such entities oractions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements ofthe various configurations described throughout this disclosure that areknown or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the artare expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to beencompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosedherein is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whethersuch disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description. No claimelement is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112,sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using thephrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element isrecited using the phrase “step for.”

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of what may be described, butrather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subjectmatter. Certain features that are described in this specification in thecontext of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combinationin a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are describedin the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented inmultiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially described as such, one or more featuresfrom a described combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the described combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

The subject matter of this specification has been described in terms ofparticular aspects, but other aspects can be implemented and are withinthe scope of the following claims. For example, while operations aredepicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not beunderstood as requiring that such operations be performed in theparticular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustratedoperations be performed, to achieve desirable results. The actionsrecited in the claims can be performed in a different order and stillachieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in theaccompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular ordershown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certaincircumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.Moreover, the separation of various system components in the aspectsdescribed above should not be understood as requiring such separation inall aspects, and it should be understood that the described programcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singlesoftware product or packaged into multiple software products.

The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, anddrawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided asillustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictivedescriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will notbe used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in thedetailed description, it can be seen that the description providesillustrative examples, and the various features are grouped together invarious implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the described subject matter requires more features thanare expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect,inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a singledisclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparately described subject matter.

The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects describedherein but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with thelanguage claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Notwithstanding,none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails tosatisfy the requirements of the applicable patent law, nor should theybe interpreted in such a way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A headset for virtual reality imaging,comprising: a first display configured to generate multiple light beamsfrom a central portion of a field of view in an image provided to auser; a first optical element configured to provide the light beamsforming a central portion of the field of view through an eyebox of theheadset that limits a volume including a pupil of the user; and a seconddisplay configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of viewfor the image through the eyebox, wherein the second display includesmultiple light emitting pixels arranged in a two-dimensional surface. 2.The headset of claim 1, wherein the central portion and the peripheralportion of the field of view comprise at least one half steradian of afield of view of a user of the headset.
 3. The headset of claim 1,wherein the peripheral portion of the field of view has a higher angularresolution of fifteen arcminutes in an area adjacent to the centralportion of the field of view.
 4. The headset of claim 1, wherein thesecond display provides an angular resolution that is axially decayingin the peripheral portion of the field of view.
 5. The headset of claim1, wherein the two-dimensional surface is a conical surface that wrapsaround the first optical element.
 6. The headset of claim 1, furthercomprising a multi-lenslet array that conforms to the two-dimensionalsurface and is configured to provide multiple light beams from thesecond display through the eyebox.
 7. The headset of claim 1, whereinthe two-dimensional surface follows a one-dimensional curvature thatconforms to a temple of a user of the headset.
 8. The headset of claim1, wherein the second display includes one of a flexible organic lightemitting diode array, a flexible liquid crystal display, or a lightemitting diode array.
 9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the seconddisplay includes multiple portions of active pixels that provide areduced angular resolution along a direction in the two-dimensionalsurface away from the first optical element.
 10. The headset of claim 1,wherein the two-dimensional surface of the second display is oriented toavoid a reflected light ray from the second display to pass through theeyebox.
 11. A display for a headset, comprising: a pixel arrayconfigured in a two-dimensional surface wherein a first dimension issubstantially perpendicular to a central display providing a centralportion of a field of view of an image to a user of the headset; amemory that stores multiple instructions; and one or more processorsconfigured to execute the instructions to activate each of multiplesegments in the pixel array to emit light beams forming a peripheralfield of view of the image, each segment providing a diminishing angularresolution of the image along the first dimension, wherein the image isprojected on a retina of a user of a headset through an eyeboxdelimiting a position of a pupil of the user.
 12. The display of claim11, wherein the central portion of the field of view and the peripheralfield of view comprises at least one steradian of a user's field of viewat a resolution of at least fifteen arcminutes.
 13. The display of claim11, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors toselect a portion of the peripheral field of view to each of two adjacentsegments to form a continuous image in the retina of the user, throughthe eyebox.
 14. The display of claim 11, wherein a gap of inactivepixels between two adjacent segments is selected so that the light beamsprovided by each of two adjacent segments in the pixel array forms acontinuous, no-crosstalk image in the retina of the user, through theeyebox.
 15. The display of claim 11, wherein the instructions furtherinclude an instruction indicative of a position of the pupil of the userwithin the eyebox.
 16. The display of claim 11, further comprising asensor configured to provide a location information for the pupil of theuser within the eyebox.
 17. The display of claim 11, wherein the memoryincludes calibration instructions to select the peripheral field of viewof the image and to modify an angular mapping of the pixel array into aretina of the user, based on a gaze direction of the user and theposition of the pupil.
 18. A method, comprising: capturing, with acamera, an image of a two-dimensional display for a headset, the imageassociated with a peripheral field of view of a user of the headset, andthe two-dimensional display including a first dimension substantiallyperpendicular to a central display that provides a central portion of afield of view to the user of the headset; obtaining an angularresolution map from the image of the two-dimensional display, whereinthe angular resolution map includes an angular distance in the imagebetween two adjacent points in the two-dimensional display; andverifying that the angular resolution map includes a curve above apre-selected threshold along the first dimension.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising activating a segment of the two-dimensionaldisplay to improve the angular resolution map.
 20. The method of claim18, further comprising determining a correction factor to improve theangular resolution map based on a pixel resolution of thetwo-dimensional display and a pupil position of the user of the headset,and storing the correction factor in a memory of the headset.